Short Titles as IntroducedWorld War II Merchant Mariner Service ActOfficial Title as IntroducedA bill to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to accept additional documentation when considering the application for veterans status of an individual who performed service as a coastwise merchant seaman during World War II, and for other purposes.Display TitleWorld War II Merchant Mariner Service ActStanding2013-10-30T18:00:00ZHearings by2013-07-24T21:40:58ZReferred toVeterans' Affairs Committeessva00Senate113Introduced in SenateWorld War II Merchant Mariner Service Act - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to accept additional documentation for verifying that an individual performed honorable service as a coastwise merchant seaman during the period beginning on December 7, 1941, and ending on December 31, 1946, for purposes of eligibility for veterans' benefits under the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977. Requires such documentation to include Social Security Administration (SSA) records and validated testimony in the case of the absence of Coast Guard shipping or discharge forms, ship logbooks, documents, or other official employment records.

Requires the Secretary, when determining whether to recognize service allegedly performed during such period, to recognize masters of seagoing vessels or other command officers who were authorized to document an individual for purposes of hiring for or discharging from the merchant marine.

Considers any service so recognized as active-duty service for purposes of veterans' burial benefits. Makes such veterans eligible for any appropriate military medals, ribbons, and decorations. Requires the Secretary to verify that an individual performed such service under honorable conditions without regard to their sex, age, or disability during the service period.

]]>2013-08-21T11:48:13Z2013-07-24T04:00:00Z002013-07-24Introduced in SenateChristopher18377870M001169MurphySen. Murphy, Christopher S. [D-CT]DM001169CTArmed Forces and National SecurityS2016-10-25T16:26:14Z2013-10-30Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-280.2013-07-25T12:14:07ZB00127720768332B001277Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]RichardFalse2013-07-25BlumenthalDCTC00103582911541C001035MARGARETSen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]SUSANFalse2013-07-25COLLINSRMEB00126518988301B001265Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK]MarkFalse2013-10-28BegichDAKS001194S0011942173Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]BrianFalse2013-10-30SchatzDHIR00059520848242R000595Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]MarcoFalse2013-11-12RubioRFLB0007111168306B000711Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]BARBARAFalse2013-12-17BOXERDCAD000607D00060779411850Sen. Donnelly, Joe [D-IN]JoeFalse2014-11-20DonnellyDINA000368A00036820758315Sen. Ayotte, Kelly [R-NH]KellyFalse2014-11-20AyotteRNHSenate2013-10-30Veterans' Affairs Committeessva00Senate0Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-280.Committee2013-07-24Veterans' Affairs Committeessva00Senate0Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.IntroReferralIntroduced in SenateLibrary of Congress9IntroReferral2013-07-24100001113World War II Merchant Mariner Service ActHRIdentical billCRS113World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act1288Subcommittee Hearings Held.2013-06-281361Cemeteries and funeralsGovernment information and archivesMarine and inland water transportationMilitary personnel and dependentsNational Guard and reservesPersonnel recordsTransportation employeesVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitationVeterans' loans, housing, homeless programsVeterans' medical careVeterans' organizations and recognitionVeterans' pensions and compensationArmed Forces and National Security2013-07-24text/xmlENPursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.Congressional Research Service, Library of CongressThis file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.